Psychology Major & Minor
Psychology is a popular major at many universities across the country, largely because psychological issues permeate our everyday lives; an understanding of how and why humans are affected by mental processes can benefit graduates in a variety of career fields. Psychology majors become adept professionals in clinical and counseling settings, medicine, law, politics, education and business.
The psychology major offers a challenging curriculum that integrates theoretical study, empirical investigation and practical application. Because faculty members have a wide range of expertise in adulthood and aging, child development, clinical psychology, cognition and emotion, history, neuroscience, psycholinguistics, social psychology and women’s studies, students receive a comprehensive education that prepares them well for careers or post-graduate study.
Richmond psychology graduates are routinely admitted to excellent graduate programs, both in psychology and other fields in which students have developed interests.
The Department of Psychology offers both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science degree in psychology in addition to an interdisciplinary major in cognitive science. There is also an interdisciplinary concentration in neuroscience.
The Psychology Major
Note: The grade point average of the department-specific and related-area coursework comprising the major must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.7).
For the Bachelor of Arts degree
10 units, including:
PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychological Science
PSYC 200 Methods and Analyses
PSYC 299 Integrated Topics
PSYC 300 Methods and Analyses Core Project
One course from Psychology 310-Psychology 329
One course from Psychology 330-Psychology 349
One course in the Psychology 433-Psychology 449 series
Three electives at the 300 or 400 level
For the Bachelor of Science degree
14 units, including:
PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychological Science
PSYC 200 Methods and Analyses
PSYC 299 Integrated Topics
PSYC 300 Methods and Analyses Core Project
One course from Psychology 310-Psychology 329
One course from Psychology 330-Psychology 349
One course in the Psychology 433-Psychology 449 series
Three electives at the 300 or 400 level
MATH 211 Calculus I
MATH 212 or MATH 232 Calculus II
One unit, chosen from:
CMSC 150 Introduction to Computing
CMSC 155 Introduction to Scientific Computing
MATH 235 Multivariate Calculus
MATH 245 Linear Algebra
MATH 312 Differential Equations
One unit, chosen from:
CHEM 141 Chemistry: Structure, Thermodynamics, and Kinetics
PHYS 127 Algebra-Based General Physics 1 with Lab - PHYS 128 Algebra-Based General Physics 2 with Lab
PHYS 131 Calculus-Based General Physics 1 with Lab - PHYS 132 Calculus-Based General Physics 2 with Lab
Note: No more than one unit of PSYC 299 may be applied to the 10 units required in psychology. No more than one unit of internship and two units of 300-level research coursework (PSYC 300 and/or PSYC 361) may be applied to the major.
The Senior Capstone Experience
The department's senior capstone experience is intended to provide psychology majors with an intensive and integrative experience in psychology to culminate their undergraduate careers.
Students pursuing either the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree must choose one of three Senior Capstone options:
Option 1
One advanced seminar. One course in the Psychology 433-Psychology 449 series to be taken during the fall or spring semester of the student's senior year.
Option 2
Senior research and one advanced seminar. One course in the Psychology 433-Psychology 449 series to be taken during the fall or spring semester of the student's senior year, and collaboration with a faculty member on a year-long senior research project in PSYC 461 and PSYC 462 courses.
Option 3
Senior honors research and two advanced seminars. One course in the Psychology 433-Psychology 449 series to be taken during the fall semester of the student's senior year, a second course from this series to be taken during spring of the senior year, and collaboration with a faculty member on a year-long senior honors research project in PSYC 491 and PSYC 492 courses. To qualify for the honors program, students must graduate with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.
The Psychology Minor
Note: The grade point average of the coursework comprising the minor must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.7).
Seven units, including:
PSYC 100 Introduction to Psychological Science
PSYC 200 Methods and Analyses
PSYC 299 Integrated Topics
One course from Psychology 310-Psychology 329
One course from Psychology 330-Psychology 349
Two electives at the 300 or 400 level
Note: No more than one unit of 300-level research coursework (PSYC 300 and/or PSYC 361) may be applied to the minor.
